Patience with Hicks should be approach for all young players

A shortage of competent replacements might indeed have a lot to do with the enigmatic Aaron Hicks remaining an everyday player for the Minnesota Twins these days, but that’s not the worst thing in the world.

Hicks is the example the Twins can hold up whenever they’re criticized, as they’ve often been in the past, for moving prospects along too slowly through the system.

This year the Twins didn’t have much choice but to throw him out there again with the hope that, present evidence to the contrary, he could become at least an average hitter if given enough at-bats.

Almost nothing until Thursday afternoon gave anyone the impression that Hicks is making progress as a hitter, but there he was, hitting a three-run home run that ultimately proved to be the difference in a win over Tampa. Just like talented outfielders are supposed to do.

It’s too early to quit on this guy, especially when the Twins’ other options this season – we’re not including Byron Buxton here – are a collection of career backups.

You want to hit the cut-off man every time? Find some 10-year dude who is good at moving runners along with his ground-outs to the second baseman. There are dozens of the sort out there.

You want to develop a franchise? Stay patient with guys like Hicks and give them an extended opportunity to succeed.